Chapter 10 I refused . I said , " We have nothing to do with each other anymore , there's no reason to meet . But on the other end of the phone , she pleaded with a tone close to begging : " Annie , I'm begging you , just meet me once , I'll even get on my knees if you want . " I fell silent . For an elder who had always been strong and proud to say such words , she must have encountered something truly overwhelming . In the end , I softened . We agreed to meet at a café . After half a year apart , she looked as if she had aged ten years , most of her hair had turned white , and her face was covered in deep wrinkles . When she saw me , her eyes immediately turned red . " Annie . " " Margaret , what do you want from me ? " She took a thick stack of medical reports from her bag and pushed them in front of me . " Take a look at this . " I picked up the report , puzzled . 0.007 % Chapter 10 It was Marvin's . It was filled with all kinds of medical terms and data I couldn't understand , but I did understand the final diagnosis . " Acute lymphoblastic leukemia . " My mind buzzed , going completely blank . Leukemia ? How could this be ... 258 ( Nouchines " The doctor said a bone marrow transplant is needed as soon as possible . " Margaret's voice was choked with tears and despair . " Our whole family went for matching tests - me , Tommy's father , Tommy -but none of us matched . " " The doctor said the highest success rate comes from a match with a biological sibling . " As she said this , she suddenly looked up , staring at me with eyes full of hope and fear . In that instant , I understood why she had come . My heart sank to the bottom . " So , you came to me because you want me to ... " I didn't finish my sentence , because it felt absurd , laughable . " Annie ! " She suddenly grabbed my hand , her grip surprisingly strong . 72 78 % 11.5700 Chapter 10 289 Vouchers " I know , we wronged you ! We were terrible people ! We made you suffer so much ! " " But Marvy is innocent! He's still so young , he doesn't know anything ! " " The doctor said only a match from his biological mother's sister -you- gives him the best chance ! " " I'm begging you , just take pity on me and save him ! As long as you save him , I'll do anything for you for the rest of my life ! " As she spoke , she was about to slide off her chair and kneel before me . I hurried to hold her up . Looking at her aged and desperate face , listening to her humble pleas , I felt a mix of emotions . Should I save him ? Save a child born of betrayal and deceit ? Reason told me I shouldn't . I had no such obligation , nor any saintly compassion . But ... In my mind , Marvin's innocent face appeared again , the way he hugged my neck and softly called me " Mom . " I closed my eyes and took a deep breath . " What about Jessica ? She's the child's biological mother . Wouldn't her match be even more likely to succeed ? " At the mention of Jessica , a flash of undisguised hatred crossed 1:57 Chapter 10 Margaret's face . " Don't mention her ! " 1299 Vouchers She gritted her teeth and said , " Ever since Marvy got sick , she's been acting crazy , always saying she wants to abandon the child , calling him a bringer of misfortune . " " A few days ago , when we weren't paying attention , she ran away ! " " We've been looking for her for days , but there's no news ! She won't answer calls , won't reply to WhatsApp , it's like she vanished into thin air ! " I was stunned . Jessica ... ran away ? She actually abandoned her own son ? At that moment , I didn't know what to say . Sometimes , this world is even more absurd than fiction . Margaret was still crying and begging me . I looked at her and stayed silent for a long , long time . " Margaret , " I said , " I can go to the hospital and get tested for a match . " 78.38 %